A TRUST is floating imaginative ideas for a key site in the middle of a city’s creative quarter.
The Ouseburn Trust owns the former canvas works site in Lime Street in the historic Ouseburn Valley, which is a growing centre for artists, craftspeople and creative businesses.
The project would see the demolition of the 19th Century canvas works, which produced sail cloth but which has been empty and deteriorating for years.
One of the ideas is to use the site for around half a dozen live-work units, or homes near existing creative bases.
Trust chairman Sheila Spencer said: “These would provide an affordable option for people to realise their dream of living where they work.”
The project could include self-build or be run on a co-operative basis, with the trust helping to find funding sources.
“It would be one of the last pieces in the valley jigsaw for us. It has long been an ambition of ours to have a live-work scheme in the valley,” said Ms Spencer.
The trust is working with a wider European network called Creative Cities.
“One of the topics we have been working on with them is live-work schemes and how we can help the valley’s creative industries. The site is a one-off opportunity,” said Ms Spencer.
“A lot of accommodation around the edges of the valley is in blocks of flats and is expensive, and we are looking at something which is very different and adaptable.
“People could use the site for many different types of work or the homes could be big enough for families. There is a wide range of people with a passion for the Ouseburn Valley who want to live there.”
Tim Bailey, partner at Xsite Architecture based in the valley is contributing to the project, said: “We have been looking at the site for a long time.
“The idea is for something a bit different which would blend into the character of the valley.
“There are a lot of people who would like to live where they work and it would bring an extra dimension to the valley.”
A public session will be held to discuss the ideas on January 14 from 12.30pm to 4pm at Cluny 2 in the valley. Kitty Porteous, admin and finance officer for the trust, said: “We are passionate about the regeneration of the valley and we are determined that it should happen in a way that truly benefits the people who want to work and live there.”
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